How to Choose the Right Tech Stack for Your Web Application Development in 2024

Creating a product is more than just designing an eye-catching UI and convenient UX, it’s about creating a stable and secure product to win over customers and scale your business up most effectively. That’s why one of the most crucial steps to take when developing a successful product is choosing the right tech stack.

With so many different options, it’s difficult to choose the stack of technologies optimal in terms of resources spent and results achieved. This article should make it easier for you, as it’ll highlight the major things to keep in mind when choosing a technology stack and answer the question of how to choose the right technology stack for your business.

What is a technology stack?

A technology stack is a system of programming languages, software products, frameworks, server infrastructure that work together to create digital products, web/mobile applications, and websites. In other words, a tech stack is an underlying structure that builds the ready product for customers to use. If you choose the right technology stack, it will allow your software engineers to code, test, and deploy faster.

What are the components of a technology stack?

• Programming languages and operating systems. You will choose them based on the environment you’re comfortable working in and the type of technologies you want to optimize for. Some popular choices are iOS, Android, Linux, Swift, Java, Python, Javascript.
• Servers and load balancing. This group includes servers, caching services, and content distribution networks. You can choose between such services as AWS, Google Cloud, Apache, Azure, Fastly, etc.
• Querying and data storage. This stack layer consists of databases, data warehouses, data pipelines (allow you to store all your current and old data). These components store data about what happens inside your app and how customers behave when using it. You can use MySQL, Azure SQL Synapse Analytics, MongoDB, Redshift, and other data infrastructure.
• Back-end frameworks. Frameworks include some basic functionality you need to build an app, provide structure for handling requests from users, communicating with your database, etc. Some engineers choose to code everything from scratch, but this is usually more time- and energy-consuming. Among popular back-end frameworks, there are Spring, Ruby on Rails, Laravel, etc.
• Front-end frameworks. This category includes all the client-side functionality in your product. Choose between Angular JS, React, NodeJS, Bootstrap, etc.
• Performance tools. These tools control the technical performance of your software and help you understand how each stack layer is performing. Here are some popular options: Dynatrace, New Relic, AppDynamics.
• API services. This category includes applications that connect you to the tools of your extended tech stack. Choose between Google Apigee, Mulesoft, Zapier, Segment, and others.

Now that we’ve touched upon the main components of the tech stack, it’s time we described the major tips for choosing the right technology stack for web development.

1. 1. Define your final destination.

Depending on whether you need a tech stack for web or mobile development, you’ll need a specific technology, programming language, etc. because the front-end stack changes depending on your final destination.

2. 2. Mobile first.

Even if you are developing an app for the web, a great number of users will open your software by mobile phones. That’s why it’s crucial to make your website responsive.

3. 3. Investigate and consult specialists.

Depending on what you need, a specific language may work better than others. So you just need to speak with specialists to be sure your tech stack is the best option for your project.

4. 4. Choose future-proof technologies.

You may prefer new technologies, but some mature ones can give you more reliability. Or, it can happen the other way: you stick to older technologies, and you are out of the latest technology radar. The best advice is to investigate and learn about the life-cycle of each technology you are thinking about.

5. 5. Don’t forget about scalability.

If you plan an expansion of your company, you should be aware that the tools you use may not have the potential to scale efficiently. React, Node.js, Ruby on Rails have excellent scalability. So, make sure you choose between the right tools for your project.

6. 6. Define the project type.

It’s quite understandable that different projects have different requirements. Large projects (for example, creating an online marketplace, or CRM) require numerous functions, multiple programming languages, integrations, hence a tech stack of a very high level.

7. 7. Maintenance.

Try choosing languages that work effectively with easy-to-maintain codes. The codebase should be of an average length so that developers spend less time trying to review or process the codes. Consider technologies that allow both dynamic and static component configurations to ensure seamless application performance.

8. 8. Modern approaches.

It’s smart to choose a team of professionals experienced in the modern transition to headless commerce and adoption of microarchitecture, as well as other up-to-date approaches, which can bring unbeatable benefits to global corporations around the globe.

9. 9. Security.

Cyberattacks are the biggest threat for every company. There are no 100% protection measures but make sure to adopt the latest security tools and follow the best security practices and guidelines.

10. 10. Team expertise.

Your tech stack also depends on the programming languages and tools your team is experienced in. So, before choosing a tech stack, be sure that your developers will be able to follow through it. Otherwise, outsource the project especially if you are pressed by deadlines.

Summing this all up, choosing the right tech stack is the foundation of any prosperous project. Before proceeding with the choice of a tech stack, it is necessary to carefully examine the project and consider the type, project requirements, the experience and resources of your team, as well as such things as scalability, security, and speed.

There exist ready-made solutions, but they can not always allow you to develop a project in accordance with all your specific requirements and unique ideas. Consequently, when forming a technology stack, preference is often given to an individual approach.